Outcome RD_D_1.4

UN Women Kenya Outcome 4: The UN system and stakeholders in Kenya engage in effective coordination to advance GEWE.

In 2024, there were effectively coordinated and well-structured GEWE mechanism in place at both national and county level- bringing together the UN, Government, CSOs, WROs and Development Partners. Drawing on the strong commitment from the Government of Kenya, the Resident Coordinator and UNCT at large, UN Women Kenya leveraged on its coordination mandate to amplify and bring together efforts aiming to achieve gender equality and women empowerment (GEWE) within the UN as well as with external stakeholders. This has led to multiple gender-responsive interventions and results; a two-thirds multi-sectoral working group on gender, increased gender responsive service delivery (for example on femicide and GBV reporting), and availability of gender data. There was great gender-mainstreaming results achieved within UN Kenya in 2024 with UN Women’s efforts. The annual UNCT-SWAP for Gender Equality Scorecard (UNCT-SWAP Scorecard) report, which assessed 5 out of 15 indicators, noted that four out of five scored 'exceeding minimum requirements' while one indicator 'met the minimum requirement'. This puts UNCT Kenya on the map as it exceeded the QCPR target of 60% (up from 33.3% in 2022 to 86.7% in 2024).Through its gender-responsive UNSDCF 2023-2026, the UN in Kenya now has a strong foundation for system-wide cooperation that mainstreams gender across all interventions and joint programmes (JPs). All ongoing 11 JPs (100%) have been assessed as GEM 1-3, with two JPs being assessed as GEM 3. With the commitment from UNCT, the Gender Theme Group (GTG) has in 2024 continued to carry out critical analysis, advocacy campaigns and capacity building. There are now quarterly GEWE-dedicated meetings, which provides UNCT with a coherent vision of GEWE work in the country. As a result, the UNCT has committed to driving the GEWE agenda in their specific agency-level programmes, leading to several UN agencies allocating financial resources to the GTG workplan as well as interventions. For 2024/2025 available resources, 94% are allocated to GEM 2 and GEM 3 sub-outputs in UNINFO. Further analysis will be done in 2025 to assess how these funds are used to achieve gender results. The GTG, with support from UN Women, developed the first ever UNCT-Kenya Gender Parity Strategy. This led the indicator on gender parity to move from 'missing requirements' in 2023 to 'exceeding minimum requirements' in the 2024 Scorecard. A system to monitor gender parity across all agencies has also been put in place. Through its coordination mandate and the role as secretariat to several GEWE groups, UN Women also helped in 2024 to create synergies between groups and bring GEWE stakeholders together. The structured engagement led to closer ties between the Development Partners Gender Group and the National Gender Sector working Group (co-chaired by the Cabinet Secretary for Gender), pushing forward efforts on for example the 'not more than two thirds gender principle' from the 2010 Constitution. By actively participating in the National Gender Sector Working Group, UN Women contributed to the formulation and implementation of gender-responsive policies and initiatives at the national level. UN Women also provided technical support to the Sustainable Development Goals platform, emphasizing gender mainstreaming in alignment with SDG 5. Despite progress, there continues to be a lack of coordination and inadequate funding for national and county gender coordination mechanisms, as well as gender capacity gaps within UN agencies. UN Women will therefore continue to undertake a holistic approach where further linkages and synergies are sought, and capacity is built.

UN Women Kenya Outcome 4: The UN system and stakeholders in Kenya engage in effective coordination to advance GEWE.

During the reporting period, UN Women strengthened coordination, coherence, and accountability across the UN system and gender stakeholders in Kenya in advancing GEWE under the UNSDCF. Through technical leadership and convening power, UN Women supported the UN Country Team to apply shared standards, align coordination mechanisms, and reinforce leadership accountability for gender equality as a collective system priority. The results confirm the continued relevance of the Theory of Change that sustained coordination, shared accountability, and leadership engagement are critical enablers of coherent UN action on GEWE. Stronger institutional coordination and accountability The 2025 UNCT SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard confirmed solid progress. Eleven of fifteen performance indicators met or exceeded minimum requirements. Gender analysis was fully integrated into the Common Country Analysis, strengthening the evidence base for coordinated action. Fifty six percent of UNSDCF indicators were gender responsive, and all twelve reviewed Joint Programmes mainstreamed gender. These results demonstrate improved institutional alignment and greater coherence in integrating GEWE across UNCT planning and programming. UN Women anchored this progress by aligning inter agency coordination bodies to UNCT SWAP and global standards, reinforcing common gender integration requirements, and embedding accountability within UNSDCF processes. Improved leadership engagement and shared ownership Leadership commitment strengthened across the UNCT. Gender equality featured in over sixty percent of UNCT meetings, reflecting sustained leadership attention. Women comprised fifty three percent of the UNCT workforce, signaling progress toward parity. Organizational culture scored seventy six percent positive, indicating enabling conditions for advancing gender equality. UN Women supported these shifts through strategic guidance to leadership, reinforcing accountability under global frameworks, and promoting evidence informed dialogue on gender parity and institutional culture as drivers of performance. More consistent gender integration in joint programming Coordination across Results Groups improved, resulting in more consistent application of gender responsiveness standards. All reviewed Joint Programmes met minimum requirements, with several demonstrating transformative ambition. This strengthened alignment between joint initiatives and UNSDCF gender commitments and reduced fragmentation in approaches to GEWE. UN Women promoted shared tools and standards for gender mainstreaming, strengthened coherence between joint outputs and UNSDCF results, and reinforced accountability for gender tagging and reporting quality. Strengthened readiness for gender responsive monitoring Monitoring and evaluation systems met minimum requirements; however, persistent gaps remain in demonstrating outcome level GEWE results. Inconsistent sex disaggregation and uneven monitoring capacities continue to limit consolidated outcome evidence. UN Women increased system readiness by strengthening application of gender responsive M&E standards, improving gender tagging discipline, and aligning MEL functions with UNCT SWAP requirements. These efforts laid the foundation for stronger outcome evidence, though further investment is needed. Support to Government and stakeholders UN Women strengthened generation and use of disaggregated and intersectional evidence to clarify differentiated needs of women and marginalized groups. Application of Gender Based Analysis Plus informed the Blue Economy Circularity and Youth Joint Programmes through clearer identification of priority populations and context specific barriers, enhancing responsiveness. A regional convening on CEDAW General Recommendation No. 40 and technology facilitated gender based violence improved understanding of how TFGBV affects young women’s political participation across six countries, generating comparative insights for more targeted responses. UN Women also supported knowledge exchange on GBV and femicide through a global webinar, contributing to deeper understanding of patterns, drivers, and response gaps relevant to Kenya. Engagement through the Generation Equality Media and Commitment Makers Forum clarified the role and capacity needs of media actors in advancing gender equality, informing more strategic partnerships. Dialogue with women’s rights organizations surfaced evidence on heightened risks of violence during protests and the pre election context, including emerging TFGBV threats. Support to National Gender Sector Working Group meetings strengthened multi stakeholder identification of priority issues across GBV, socio economic empowerment, and leadership. These interventions strengthened coordination and governance in the gender sector at national and county levels. Convening women’s rights organizations amplified collective advocacy, while GBA Plus analysis strengthened gender targeting models, particularly within the blue economy sector. Overall contribution The reporting period demonstrated a more coordinated and accountable UN system approach to advancing GEWE in Kenya. UN Women’s leadership strengthened coordination architecture, aligned institutional frameworks, and reinforced gender equality as a shared performance priority. While gaps in outcome evidence persist, improved leadership engagement and consistent gender integration position the UN system to deliver more coherent and transformative results at national and county levels.

UN Women Kenya Outcome 4: The UN system and stakeholders in Kenya engage in effective coordination to advance GEWE.

The GEWE coordination in Kenya was in 2023 greatly enhanced, both within the UN system and in the county at large. There are now effectively coordinated and well-structured GEWE mechanism in place- b ringing together the UN, g overnment, Civil society , W omen R ights O rganisation s (WROs) and Development Partners . Drawing on the strong commitment from the Government of Kenya, the Resident Coordinator and UNCT at large, UN Women Kenya leveraged on its coordination mandate to strengthen coordination on GEWE both within the UN as well as with external stakeholders. T here was remarkable gender-mainstreaming results achieved within UN Kenya in 2023 with UN Women’s efforts. The 2023 annual Gender Scorecard report assessed 4 out of 5 indicators as exceeding minimum requirements and one me eting the minimum requirement. This put UNCT Kenya on the global map as it exceeded the QCPR target of 60% (up from 33.3% in 2022 to 66.7% in 2023 ) . GEWE was also incorporated across the UNSDCF 2023-2026 , resulting in a solid foundation for a system-wide cooperation framework that mainstreams gender across all interventions and joint programmes (JPs). The Gender Theme Group (GTG) was reinstated and capacitated, which will help hold agencies accountable for the gender commitments made. Through engagement in various fora (Outcome groups, the Monitoring & Evaluation group and GTG), UN Women was also to successfully advocate for and position gender equality at the UNCT level and enable availability of sex-disaggregated data, including by collaborating with the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. In addition to supporting their own agencies in the development of interventions and monitoring/reporting on gender results, GTG helped develop a gender checklist that has been used to ensure that the creation process of JPs is gender responsive. Out of 19 JPs developed in 2023, 13 are gender responsive. Leveraging on its coordination mandate and the role as secretariat to several of the GEWE groups, UN Women helped create synergies between the various groups and bring GEWE stakeholders together. The structured engagement led in 2023 to greatly enhanced advocacy and well-coordinated and impactful organization of events such as the International Women’s Day and 16 Days of Activism. Closer ties were also built between the Development Partners Gender Group (DPGG) and the National Gender Sector working Group (co-chaired by the CS), with frequent participation of the Permanent Secretary and other key government stakeholders, pushing forward efforts on for example the two thirds gender principle. As a member in the Multi-Sectorial Working Group, UN Women also supported and advocated for implementation of the two-thirds gender principle as per the 2010 Constitution. WROs were furthermore able to submit a memorandum on their views on the two thirds principle to the National Dialogue Committee , and together with the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN), UN Women helped host women experts during the climate summit to discuss gender equality in climate change mitigation . UN Women contributed to the results above by providing secretarial services to the GTG and the DPGG, as well as technical and financial support. By actively participating in the National G ender Sector Working Group UN Women contributed to the formulation and implementation of gender-responsive policies and initiatives at the national level. UN Women also provided technical support to the Sustainable Development Goals platform, emphasizing gender mainstreaming in alignment with SDG 5. Despite the progress made, there continues to be gaps about gender capacity within UN agencies and continued accountability for agencies to develop gender-responsive programmes and report on the indicators under their leadership. Having commitment and engagement by the RC and UNCT helped ensure that GEWE has been prioritized within the UN system. UN Women will therefore continue to undertake a holistic approach where further linkages and synergies are sought, and capacity is built.